1959 Map of Lake Berryessa

About this map

Lake Berryessa dominates the western portion of this 1959 survey, showing the recently formed reservoir following the completion of the Monticello Dam. The landscape reveals a sharp divide between the steep, ridge-cut terrain of the Vaca Mountains and the irrigated agricultural lands of Hungry Hollow to the east. Along the eastern edge, the Southern Pacific railroad line serves the town of Esparto, while various sloughs like Chickahominy Slough and Union School Slough drain the valley floor. This period marks the early rise of water-based recreation in the region, evidenced by the development of the Spanish Flat Resort, Steel Canyon Resort, and the Lake Berryessa Park Hdqrs. Local heritage is preserved in family-named landmarks like Gunn Ranch and the Scott Ranch, alongside institutional markers such as the Union School and Capay Cemetery.